Chapter 20

Val came out of the cave. She noticed the three wolves conversing about something.

"Oi, what you guys are talking about."

"Ayame and some of the rest of the northern tribe are on their way here," Ginta replied.

"Ayame?" Val blinked a few times and a smile went across her face. "Really? She's really coming? That's great! It'll be good to see another woman around here!"

Koga sweat dropped and sighed. Val and Ayame always got alone so well in the past. Val used to sit for Ayame when she was younger. When Ayame came the last time, profession that he had to keep his "promise" to marry her and Val wouldn't shut up with each other. They nearly yapped his ears off. "Do you think you and Ayame would get along the same when she finds out that you're my mate."

"Oh, that's true. I hadn't thought about that."

Hakkaku laughed. "I think Koga's forgetfulness is rubbing off on you, sis."

Koga shot him daggers. "Speaking of which, Val, how are you feeling?"

"Enn? Oh, very well, thanks to you Koga," she said. She held up her completely healed arms. "All better."

"You know that's not what I meant," he stated, holding his arms across his chest.

Val smiled and a small blush went across her face. "I don't know, why don't you see for yourself?" She sat down next to him. Koga first felt with his hand, then sniffed with his nose. The scent was there and it was strong. He then pressed his ear against Val's stomach and listened. The sound of a heart beat, no two heart beats echoed in his ears. He smiled and looked back up at her.

"I do believe everything is fine."

Val smiled at him, feeling extremely happy inside.

"That'll be something having two pups around," Ginta said.

"Hai," Hakkaku agreed. "It'll definitely give some life back to this place."

"Hey, maybe if we're lucky, Ayame will choose one of us as her mate sense Koga can't be," Ginta complied. He looked up at the sky with a dreamy blush on his face. "Then there will be more pups."

"I think is shows more than ever that Ginta always had a crush on her," Val whispered. "They are the same age afterall."

Hakkaku and Koga nodded a few times in agreement.

"I remember this one time he tried to give Ayame a pretty water lily as a gift," Hakkaku whispered back. "But she turned him down, saying that Koga-sama had already promised to marry her. Not long after, she left with the rest of the Northern tribe to the mountains in the north."

Val and Koga both nodded a few times in agreement.

"And now with me no longer his rival," Koga whispered. "Ginta wouldn't fear revealing his true feelings to her anymore. For I do believe he was more afraid of me than of her rejecting him. But, now, he's free to make his moves."

Hakkaku and Val nodded in agreement.

"I think we cheer him on," Val stated. "Let's encourage him to do his best once Ayame hears the news."

The two male wolves nodded at her in agreement.

"Whoo hoo! Go Ginta! You get him you bad doggy!" Val cheered. "We know you can do it! VIVA! With me you guys. VIVA!"

"VIVA!"

"VIVA!"

"VIVA!"

"VIVA!"

Ginta sweat dropped as he watched his comrades do the weird little cheer. He gave a sweat drop. Why are they doing this? But most of all what are doing?!

It wasn't long before a small whirlwind, followed by a pack of white wolves game hurling down the mountain pass.

"Okay, everyone, brace yourselves," Val warned. "And Koga, don't be too harsh on her"

"I should be telling you that," he snickered.

The whirl wind ended up in front of the 'pack' and the red-headed wolf girl appeared. "Koga-kun!" she gleed.

"Oi!" Koga smiled. "And what brings the Northern pack to my lands now?"

Ayame walked over to them. She had two other companions with her, and red-headed male companion and a white haired female companion. "We heard about your tribe's loose," she stated sadly. "Ojiisan has been worried." She looked around. "Are you all that's left."

Koga nodded. "Actually about a 2 dozen of the tribe survived the attack." he replied. "But they decided to go and join up with the other packs. I don't blame them, it seems my jewel shards were more of a burden to his pack than a blessing like we thought."

"So why did you stay?" the male companion asked.

Koga lifted his eyebrow at him. Even if he didn't necessarily had a pack anymore. didn't change the fact that he was the prince of the wolf clan.

"Oh, gomen, Koga-kun," Ayame apologized. "These are my companions, Ara," she motioned to the female, "and Yukoni."

Koga nodded and looked back at Yukoni. "Because, this is my home," he stated firmly. "And I stay where my home is. Those who want to leave can leave and those who want to stay here with me, can stay. If pack members leave, then I'll use what I have to keep the pack going."

"There are no females," Yukoni pointed out. "How to you expect to have a pack grow if there are no females to make pups?"

Valdrianth cleared her throat and stood up to her full height. Her tail gave a twitch. Yukoni narrowed his eyes at her. He heard from the elders that there was a strange female demon of some sort that Koga has taken in at his youth. They also warned Yukoni to make sure she wasn't too accustomed to the kindness, that she thought she was a wolf herself. Especially, towards the young prince.

Koga stood up. If anything he didn't want to have this "guest" upset Val. "Val, why don't you go inside?" he offered.

"How about I don't?" she replied.

Koga sweat dropped. There went his planned. He just hope she didn't do anything to hurt herself. Then again, Val wasn't that stupid.

"Actually," Ayame said, still oblivious to what was going on. "Ojiisan was concerned about that very much. He has offered for any of your tribes mateless males and females to come over to our tribe and pick suitable mates."

"Really?" Ginta and Hakkaku perked up.

"Koga, could we?" Hakkaku questioned.

"Of course you can," Koga replied. "It's very gracious of Ojiisan Ookami to so such a helpful deed."

Ayame smiled in happiness.

Koga sighed. "Ayame."

"Hai?" she questioned in happiness.

"I will not be going, I don't need to choose a mate."

"Of course you don't Koga-kun!" she gleed. "I am to be your bride after all!"

Koga winced at her happiness. The poor kid. This was going to hurt her so much. "Gomen, Ayame." He shook his head. "I can't have you as my bride. I've already mated."

"Enn. . . . .?"

Ara and Yukoni looked at each other.

"It isn't Kagome is it?" Ayame sniffled.

"Ie," he replied. "It isn't."

Ayame drooped in sadness. She wanted to cry. "Who then?" She lifted her head and looked around, twitching her noise. The picked up the scent and looked towards Val's way. "Val-neesan."

Val nodded.

"Oh." Ayame looked up at Koga. "I was getting a little worried about that Koga-kun. I almost thought you would've chosen a human mate."

Koga almost fell over. "Y-you're not mad?"

"Well," she smiled softly, looking down. "Not really mad, a little sad though. However, I remember when Neesan first came to the tribe. When you first brought her there. You were also so protective of her. You made sure she was always in you sight, and that no one else would ever, ever touch her." She looked back up at Koga. "Those are early signs of bonding. The kind of bonding that lead to when it comes time to choose your right mate. I already saw this, but because I was a child then, and in ways I still am, because of that, I chose to ignore it."

"Ayame, thank you for understanding," Koga said.

Ayame's eyes grew big and happy. "So can I pup sit?"

"Enn. . . " Koga and Val sweat dropped.

Yukoni stepped forward. "I for one am not okay with his arrangement."

Koga's face grew serious and narrowed his eyes at the bulky male.

"Being the Prince you should know our customs, Koga," he growled. "And, you know are customs prohibit interbreeding with anything other than another wolf. These rule pertain especially to your royal blood, for it would be your first born son that takes on your heritage as Lord."

Koga folded his arms across his chest. "Rules or no rules, prince or no prince, I choose who I want. My choice was Valdrianth, not because she was or wasn't wolf, but because it was a choice of hearts and love. And, my pups, our pups, will inherit my title. They will take on my duties and lead my pack."

"Duties that you refuse to carry out yourself," Yukoni snarled.

Val stepped forward. "Excuse you," she stated. "But, who are you to tell Koga what his duties are. Who are you to judge, and who invited you to our home? If you want to keep standing on this soil, you hold your tongue. And if you don't I will personally remove you myself."

Koga sweat dropped. Oh, she certainly hasn't lost any of the spunk from her pregnancy. Though, she's lost something from her purge.

Ayame sighed. "Koga-kun, is there anything else that we could help you with."

"Ie," he replied, shaking his head. "Other than that, everything is fine."

She gave a nod and a smile. She then looked at Ginta and Hakkaku. "Are you to ready?" she questioned them.

"You bet we are!" They gleed, getting to there feet.

Koga smirked. "You two have fun. Of course, I doubt that ya'll wouldn't. I might have a little myself while ya'll are away." There was a sudden blow behind the head. "Ittai!"

"WE, might have some fun," she corrected. He always forgot to mention "we" now instead of "I", but he was easily forgiven. After all, Val knew how forgetful he was.

Ayame nodded. "Oi, ja ne, Koga-kun," she waved as the wolves took off. "I'll send them back safe and sound."

"Oi, ja ne!" Koga and Val waved back at them, earning them a disgraceful glare from Yukoni.

"He's a grouch," Valdrianth implied.

"Feh, don't worry about him," snorted Koga. "It's not going to be a problem. "The old wolf won't have anything against it I'm sure. If he did, he would've already prohibited you from even staying by the wolves when you first came. And, he didn't."

"No," she smiled. "He didn't."

"So, no use worrying over something not worrying over right?"

"Hai." She gave a nod in agreement.

"Now," Koga rubbed his chin. "About that fun we were talking about."

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Yay, another chapter over and done with. Aww, puppies...or maybe not. Yukoni is so suspecious, and we can't forget about Jarra. He's still in there. In fact, I just might start off the next one with our favorite raptor. :D